U2A3- Macbeth Analysis

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Symbolism

In Macbeth, sleep symbolizes the innocence and tranquility of the characters as it is vital for both their physical and mental health. Sleep is a significant symbol in the play as it revolves around the murder of King Duncan. It is used as a source of rejuvenation and serenity however, due to their silent actions the characters in Macbeth lose their sleep and are no longer at peace.

Specifically, the protagonist Macbeth, who becomes extremely restless after committing the crime, feels guilty and shameful and is unable to live a peaceful life. Furthermore, the murder of Duncan takes place while he is asleep at night, which signifies darkness and obscurity, perhaps a time at which the darkest hours foreshadow the evil acts that transpire as viewed by Banquo's absurd dreams.

"A heavy summons lies like lead upon me,

And yet I would not sleep. Merciful powers,

Restrain in me the cursèd thoughts that nature

Gives way to in repose" (II.I.6-9).

On the night that Macbeth decides to put his plan into action, Banquo describes his disturbing dreams about the three witches' prophecy to his son This is significant as it foreshadows the murder plot and the prophecy as it is seen coming true. Banquo then tells Macbeth, "What, sir, not yet at rest? The king’s abed. He hath been in unusual pleasure"(II.I.12-13), this symbolizes the innocent life that both Macbeth and King Duncan enjoy before their downfall. On the other hand, the lack of sleep after Macbeth's downfall displays a feeling of guilt for both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, who enter an enduring trap of corruption.

literal imagery

"Is this a dagger which I see before me,

The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.

I have thee not, and yet I see thee still " (II.I.33-35).

The imagery of the dagger insisting Macbeth kill King Duncan exhibits guilty conscience and temptation. This is a warning sign to make Macbeth aware of and to prevent him from the actions he is about to commit. Before Macbeth enters Duncan's bedroom, he hallucinates a floating dagger with blood stains on it which clearly informs the audience about Macbeth's disturbed state of mind.

"Mine eyes are made the fools o' th' other senses,

Or else worth all the rest. I see thee still,

And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood,

Which was not so before. There’s no such thing." (II.I.44-47)

The bloody dagger is an imagery of Macbeth's

sub-conscience mind. It foreshadows Duncan's death and gives a clear view of the commencement of his atrocious behaviour and the collapsing of his moral values. In addition to that, Macbeth states, "I have thee not, and yet I see thee still" (II.I.35), which depicts that he is purely hallucinating as the charm of the witches is successful in pushing Macbeth towards performing this horrible act. On the contrary, the bloody dagger could simply be a warning to remind Macbeth, the tragic hero, about his future acts and warn him to leave the sinful world as well as continue to live his life in peace and harmony.

Figurative imagery- simile

"With Tarquin’s ravishing strides, towards his design

Moves like a ghost Thou sure and firm-set earth " (II.I.55-56).

When Macbeth is expounding his thoughts during the dagger soliloquy, Shakespeare incorporates the use of a simile, "moves like a ghost" (II.I.56), correlating that Macbeth's footsteps should move like a ghost towards the victim, thus making it inconspicuous to anyone in the castle. This simile compares two things; Tarquin's rapacious strides which are big long steps with Macbeth's footsteps that are approaching Duncan to ensure he remains undetected while he is walking towards the chamber.

metaphors

"Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse" (II.I.50).

On the night of the murder, Macbeth says, "nature seems dead" (II.I.50), which simply means that everyone snoozes in a deep death like sleep. This metaphor correlates humans with nature and death with sleep. Macbeth plans to murder the King just like Tarquin, a Roman prince, who utilizes the cloak of night to commit his evil acts.

"Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible

To feeling, as to sight? or art thou but

A dagger of the mind, a false creation,

Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?" (II.I.36-39).

A 'dagger of the mind'(II.I.38) refers to Macbeth's disturbed mind which imagines things and creates a false illusion. This metaphor correlates a dagger to his evil thoughts that occur in his mind pertinent to the murder. Since the decision to kill Duncan is very difficult for Macbeth to execute, the metaphor 'heat-oppressed brain' suggests that Macbeth has become overly angry and vengeful, leading him to a confused state of mind about whether he is doing the right thing or not.

Personification

"The moon is down. I have not heard the clock.

And she goes down at twelve" (II.I.1-2).

Personification means giving human characteristics or attributes to something that is non-human. In act 2 scene 1, when Banquo and Fleance are conversing about the coming of the night and the setting of the moon, Banquo refers to the moon as 'she', thus giving the moon human qualities by indicating it with a pronoun.

"Hold, take my sword. There’s husbandry in heaven;

Their candles are all out. Take thee that too" (II.I.4).

In act 2 scene 1, Banquo indicates 'husbandry in heaven'(II.I.4) as to those in heaven who do not want to share their light with Earth, hence creating a dark night without any stars shining.

"Moves like a ghost.Thou sure and firm-set earth,

Hear not my steps, which they walk for, for fear" (II.I. 56-57).

In Macbeth's soliloquy, he personifies the 'ground' under him by asking the ground to not pay attention to the sound of his footsteps when he goes to murder Duncan in his chamber.

"I go, and it is done. The bell invites me" (II.I.62).

At the end of the scene, Macbeth personifies the 'bell' that Lady Macbeth rings which serve as an indication for him to proceed with his evil act.

Part 2: psychoanalytical theory

According to Dr. Kristi Siegel, the psychoanalytical theory examines the expression of controversies that arise from a person's subconscious mind. Sigmund Freud, the creator of this theory, subdivides it into three parts which are the id, superego, and ego. The Project Lit Crit: Psychoanalytic Literary Criticism explains that the behaviour of a person to satisfy his or her evasive desires can lead the person into conflicts with him or herself or the society. Shakespeare's Macbeth analyzes this perspective to fully understand the character of the tragic hero, Macbeth, as all three parts equally exist in his mind.

The id is the first to develop in a person, and everyone is born with it. It is based on desire and the continuation of doing what the person desires to do despite being wrong and without any consideration of the society as seen in The Project Lit Crit video. In Shakespeare's Macbeth, Macbeth is seen to embody the characteristics of the id because of his desire to become the King by murdering King Duncan. His desire to replace the King inaugurates when the three witches explain their prophecy and Macbeth returns to the witches to seek answers regarding his societal power and how he can retain it. In Act 2 Scene 1, his passion to take the throne is uncontrollable as he begins to see an imaginary bloody dagger during his soliloquy. It is clearly evident that Macbeth is driven by his id as he is well aware of his unrestrained ambition, and at the same time he is not worried about the consequences. In fact, due to his hunger for power, he continues to do what he feels is correct without taking into consideration the moral laws that society follows. His actions represent his id as he loses control over his mind and eventually murders Duncan as the prophecy uplifts his desire to an instant need.

The Project Lit Crit describes that ego is the balance between the superego and the id as it is based on what we perceive or how we behave. It takes the law into consideration and respects the consequences of the actions. Macbeth's ego is the contrary factor as it warns him that he should not kill Duncan because of his kindness and good behaviour towards everyone. At first, Macbeth disregards Lady Macbeth's idea about killing the King, but eventually when she dedicates herself to that ambitious plan, she cleverly manipulates her husband into executing the act of murder for power. In addition to that, Macbeth adds, "I think not of them. Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve" (II.I.22), which signifies that he does not want to think of the three witches who provoke his inner desire of usurping power. Though Lady Macbeth and the three witches are the ones to evoke this idea, ultimately, Macbeth is the one to blame for his downfall as his id clouds his thinking about the consequences and he pushes aside his ego to carry on the evil act.

Dr. Kristi Siegal refers to the superego being related to everything the society teaches us, such as the law. It gives a clear view of what is 'right' and what is 'wrong' based on social restraints. In Macbeth, his superego restrains him from attempting the killing as he realizes it is morally wrong to murder another person. During Macbeth's soliloquy, he states, "Which now suits with it. Whiles I threat, he lives. Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives"(II.I.60-61), this clearly shows that Macbeth is in a dilemma with his conscience as he tells Banquo that his courage is slowly cooling off, and he wants to kill Duncan while his courage still remains in him. His conscience encourages him to follow the rules of society and not involve himself in the gratification of his desires, but Macbeth traps himself into his desire/id and eventually murders Duncan. Though later in the plot, Macbeth immensely regrets his actions and feels guilty.